Bar grinding machine



Feb. 26, 1957 s. OPALICK BAR GRINDING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 10, 1955 INVENTOR STEPHEN OPALICK f ATTOR EY Feb. 25, 1957 s. OPALICK BAR GRINDING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 10, 1955 INVENTOR STEPHEN OPALICK Feb. 26, 1957 Filed Aug. 10, 1955 s. OPALICK 2,782,567

BAR GRINDING MACHINE 3 SheetsSheet 3 l. i I

INVENTOR STEPHEN OPALICK United I States Patent and The present inventionrelates to grindin'g machines'and more particularly to a novel and improved "apparatus for grinding surface defects from hot rolled steel bars andthe-like.

In the manufacture of steel bars, rods and the like surfa'cedeieets and-flaws are often formed in the rolled stock which must be located aud r'em'oved before the bars are drawn or otherwise-further processed. For

this purpose most steel producing mills employ -crews or-inspectors=who examine each bar or red, marking the defects therein which must be removed; The bars are then transferred to grinding departments where other crews of fnen remove the defects with portable hand grinding devices. While this "system is time consuming, inetli'c'ient "and expensive there has heretofore been "no practical form of machine orapparatus capable 'of properly grinding the'varidus defectsa's 'n'ote'db'y the inspection department. Thereforeit i's the ultimateobjectfof the present invention to provide agenerally simplifiedand wholly practical app'ar'atuswhich requires the attendance of only a single operator and which is provided with means for progressively "moving bar or rod stock into an 'op'erators' view in such mannenthathe'may readily 'obser've'tlie "marked defects "therein and bring one or more o'f'a"pl'urality' of grinding-units into operation so that s'uch defects may be properly" removed.

On'eof the-diffi'culties encountered in the mechanization of'the grinding or defects from steelbar and rod stock is that the defects are] variously located on all sides of thestock, withs'ome of the "dfects bein'g'of considerable depth, requiring substantial grinding, while other defects may be remnvewshauow, requiring little "grinding.

'l-t isdesirable to grind'em at the area of t'he aera,

leaving as 'much of tne'pareng material as For this reason it has been thought necesary heretofore to continue to carry out the removal of defect byliarid grinders. Arid a'lth'o'ug'lT'prio'r attempts have been made to develo apparatus "for I accomplishing the same resfilt b'yf nie'chanieali ineans; 's'uch appatatus' has" been} found-"f beinope'rativeor wholly impractical. Thus,it'is one-of the more Specific objects of the'inverition toprovide a practical mechanical device for grindingthe surface defects from steel bar 'and rddf-stock' which comprises a plurality of independently controlled grinder units which maybe selectively controliedby' a single operator from a single" control station so that" each"defectehcouiitered may be separately dealt with. V n

Another specific object of the invention is the' provis'ion ofia' novel grinding machine for removing surface "defects from" bar stockand thelike, wherein mea s 'are p'rovided enabling'an operator stationed at 'a' single control positiorito observe all defects in' the'stock 'so that the plura'lity of grinding unitsmay be controlled accordingly. Intliis respect it will be understood that the bar stock will "have defects on allsurfa'ces, While 'only one sideofthestock is normally visible at one time from a single 'observa'tion point. Thus, the invention provides a novel arrangement of mirrors positioned advantageously with respect ice to the grindingstation and visible from a central control point so that the machine operator may conveniently observe all sides 'of the stock simultaneously and control any or'all o f'the several grinder units accordingly.

The above-and other objects and advantages of their:- vention will become apparent upon full consideration of the following detailed-specification and accompanying drawing wherein is disclosed a'certain preferred-embodiment of the'inventi'on.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is aside elevation, taken partly in section, of a bar stock grinding machine constructedin accordance with the teachings of my invention; 7 V

Figure '2 is a section view taken generally along line IIII of Figure 1';

Figure 3 is a section viewtaken TIL-III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is-=a simplified "schematic representation 'of actuating and control c'ircuitry employed'in connection with the apparatus of- Figure '1; and

Figure "5 is-'a fragmentary section view taken generally along lineV- V of Figure 2.

Referring n'ow' tothe drawing, the numerals 10'and 11 designate spaced longitudinally disposed heavy beam members which, together with transversely disposed generally along line beams 12 and "R form 'abase or frame structurelfor my apparatus. Att'heendso'f the base, and intermediate the endsii necessary, are provided suitable legs or supports 14 and lfi'whichfirnily support the base structure '10-'-"1'3' above-the floor or foundation 16.

Mounted on the-baSe IQ' -EQ, adjacent each end thereof, are spaced pinch roll assemblies 17 and 18L The first pinch-roll'asserribly 17, at the left in Figure 1, constitutes the stok-entrysideroll assembly and is adapted to receive bar-or rod stock, not specifically shown in 'Figure 1, from suitable skids or conveyors, also not shown, and 'to feedsuchstock from left to right, toward the exit sidepinchroll assembly 18.

-In theillustrated-apparatus the pinch roll assemblies 17'and IS-eachcomprise anupper roll assembly 19 and pairs'of'lower-roll assemblies '20 and 21. These various roll assemblies-are in themselves generally conventional and are arranged tobe adjustableso'that stock of various sizes and/or'shapes maybe properlyaccommodated.

It'is also de'sirab'le thatfthe pinch'roll assemblies 17 and 1'8 be vertically-adjustablein a bodily'manner so that regardless of the size or shape-of the stock received therein the center aX-isof the stock will'besubstanti'ally aligned with theprincipal axis 22"of'the'apparatus. To this end 'ea'ch pin'ch' roll assembly is mounted upon an arm-like frame- 23 jwhichis pivoted to the longitudinal beams '10 ant-i 11,- near the-ends*'thereof,' bymeans of a transversely-disposed 'shaft '24; As will'be observe'd in Figure 1, the frame- 23 has an"armportion23' which extends inv an outwardlydirection-from the'pinch roll assembly so that the pivot point for the frame 23 is spaced substantially frointhe'vertical'a xis through the pinch roll assembly 17.

Directly belo'w'theipinchu'oll asembly 17 there is provided a shaft 25-which is' -journaled in the side members 10 "a'nd"11-of the mainframe and'which mounts an eccentric member 26 intermediate its ends. The eccentric 26 i's received within a window 27 in the'pinch roll'mo'untingfra'm 23 so thatnpon' rotation of the shaft 25: and eccentric 26the frame 23 is pivoted about its mounting shaft 24 to raise or lower thepinch roll group 17iin the manner-"desired.

In-accordance withthe teachings of the invention there is mounted on the main frame 10-13, intermediate the inch 'rc1rassemb1ies-17 aiid-18g a large'polygonal grinder frame-28 which is're'latively large in transverse dimension 'and"which is provided with a centralopening' 2' 9 which is aligned with the principal axis 22 of the machine. The grinder frame is comprised essentially of a flat central web portion 30, mounted about its periphery by a large flange 31 extending longitudinally on either side of the web portion 30.

On each side of the grinder frame 28 there are mounted three grinder units 32 which are mounted along radial axes spaced angularly one hundred twenty degrees apart. Each grinder unit 32 comprises a slide member 33 which is guided upon right angular supporting surfaces 34 and 35 provided on the grinder frame 28. As illustrated in Figure 2, the guiding or supporting surface 34 is disposed perpendicularly to the web portion 30 of the grinder frame 28. Directly opposite the last mentioned guiding surface 34 there is mounted on the slide 33 a drive motor 36, the rotating shaft of which extends inwardly in parallel relation to the axis of movement of the slide 33.

At the inner end of the slide 33 there are provided spaced journal bearings 37 and 38 journaling a shaft 39 which is connected at one end to the drive motor 36 and at its other end to a bevel pinion 40.- The pinion 40 meshes with a similar bevel pinion 41 carried on a shaft 42 which is related perpendicularly to the shaft 39 and which is journaled in a bearing portion 43 which extends inwardly from the inner end of the slide 33.

At the end of the shaft 42 opposite the bevel pinion 41 there is mounted a grinding wheel 44 which, as will be readily observed in Figure 2, is aligned with the radial axis upon which the grinder unit is disposed.

At the upper end of the slide 33 there is attached the piston rod 45 of a hydraulic actuator 46 which is rigidly secured to the outer flange portion of the grinder frame 28. The arrangement is such that upon appropriate application of fluid pressure to the actuator 46 the entire grinder unit 32 will be caused to move toward or away from the central axis 22 of the machine.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention it is contemplated that hexagonal or round bar or rod stock will be accommodated. Therefore, there are three uniformly spaced grinder units mounted on each side of the web 30, with the units of one side being angularly displaced sixty degrees from the units on the other side. By this means, employing flat surfaced wheels as illustrated all six sides of a hexagonal workpiece may be contacted by the grinding wheels. Or, in the case of round stock, arcuate wheels, not specifically shown, may be employed so that all surface portions of the stock are contacted or are capable of being contacted. And in this respect it will be observed that alternate ones of the grinder units 32 are offset longitudinally so as to avoid any interference when two or more adjacent grinders are simultaneously 7 brought to bear upon the work.

In. connection with the above, it should be clearly understood that the exact number of grinder units forms no part of the present invention. That is, in the grinding of square or rectangular stock four units may be employed, with alternate ones of the units being offset longitudinally in the same manner as above described. And for grinding other standard shapes and sizes machines are provided with an appropriate number of units, as best befits the circumstances. 7

Referring now to Figure 4, illustrating control and actuating circuitry for one of the grinder units 32, there is provided a four-way solenoid operated valve 47 which connects at its outlet side with conduits 48 and 49 leading to the rod and head ends respectively of the slide actuating cylinder 46. The valve 47 has a spool 50 therein which is normally in a neutral position wherein ports leading to the conduits 48 and 49 are closed off. At each end of the spool 50 there is a solenoid operator 51 or 52. The coils 51 and 52 may be selectively energized by closing switches 53 or 54 so that the valve spool 50 is shifted to one side or the other to admit fluid to the actuator 46. Thus, if the switch 54 is closed solenoid 52 is energized and spool 50 is shifted to the right admitting fluid to the upper or head end of actuator 46 4 and exhausting fluid from the lower or rod end. This causes the grinder unit to move inwardly toward the central axis of the machine and into contact with bar stock passing therethrough. When the switch 52 is opened the spool returns to its neutral position and the slide 33 and grinding wheel 44 is locked in position.

The above described control arrangement is duplicated for each of the several grinding units employed, with each grinding unit having separate sets of control switches so that each unit may be employed wholly independently of the other.

In order to properly control the grinding pressure employed in each case I provide in the conduit 49 leading to the head end of each actuating cylinder 46 a pressure relief system comprising a conduit 55 and an adjustable pressure relief valve 56. When the pressure in the head end of the cylinder 46 exceeds a predetermined value the valve 56 is opened against a closing spring so that fluid is exhausted from the system. The pressure at which the valve 56 will open is controlled by means of a hand screw adjustment 57, and it is contemplated that this adjustment will be made at a central control station at which the switches 53 and 54 are located. Thus, as an operator observes a relatively deep defect approaching the grinding station he may manipulate the pressure adjustment 57 for the particular grinder which will overlie the defect so that when the grinder is brought into pressure engagement with the bar stock the defect may be completely removed without any danger of damaging the grinder apparatus and/or removing too much stock from the work. Likewise, when the operator observes a relatively small or shallow defect he may reduce the relief point of the valve 56 so that a smaller maximum grinding pressure is obtainable, assuring that a minimum amount of excess stock will be removed from the bar.

In order to properly control the movement of stock through the machine one or both of the pinch roll assemblies are connected with a reversing drive motor 58. In the power circuit for the drive motor 58 are a reversing switch 59 and a speed control device 60, both of which will be conveniently located at a central control station along with the previously described control elements. By this means the machine operator may readily vary the speed of stock advance so that it may be moved .quickly along to bring defects into operative relation to the grinder station, and may be slowed down to various speeds during the actual grinding operations, depending upon the size and depth of the defect or defects encountered. The reversing switch 59 is provided so that in the event the operator discovers that he has not sufficiently removed a surface defect after the defective portion passes through the grinder station he may reverse the movement of the stock to further grind the defective portion.

Of course, in order for a machine operator to be able to properly process moving bar stock he must be able to locate all of the defects therein marked by the inspection crews. This has always presented a substantial problem in the past since at least half of the stock is facing away from the operator. In the present invention, however, as one of the important features thereof, I have provided arcuate mirrors 61 and 62 which are mounted on the main frame 10+13, on either side of the grinder frame 28 and closely adjacent thereto. As shown in Figure 3, the mirrors are arcuate in contour and extend beneath the bar stock and preferably upwardly along one side thereof. The arrangement is such that an operator positioned somewhat above and to the right of the bar stock, as represented in Figure 3, may view three sides of the hexagonal bar directly while observing the other three by means of the arcuate mirrors 61 and 62. As the bar stock approaches the grinding station the machine operator may observe a defect in any surface immediately before the defect reaches the grinders. The operator may readily determine which surface or on what surface area the defect lies and its approximate dimensions. Having ascertained this the operator may quicklyadjust the pressure relief valve 56 for the grinder to be brought into operation and close the proper switch so that the defect is ground out as it passes through the grinder frame 28. As the defect, or the defect area emerges on theexit side of the grinder frame '28 the operator may again inspect the surface, either directly or through the exit side mirror 62, to determine Whether or not the'defecthas been fully and properly removed. In some cases it will be found that the defect, though having the outward appearance of being quite shallow or slight, will be relatively deep so that it will not have been fully removed. In such cases the reversing switch 59 is thrown and the stock is caused to move in a reverse direction to bring the incompletely removed defect back into operative relation to the grinders.

Since the mirrors 61 and 62 are positioned relatively close to the grinders I prefer to form the mirrors of high- -ly polished stainless steel, employing a glass protective cover if desired. Periodically it will be desirable to clear the mirror surfaces of grinding dust which accumulates, and this may be readily accomplished by suitable air jets 64 shown in Figure 3 of the drawing.

Although some grinding dust is unavoidable about the present and most other grinding machines I provide means for collecting andconfining'the same insofar as possible. Thus, as shown in Figure l, the opposite longitudinal ends of the grinder frame are provided with cover members 31' which are formed of suitable plastic or safety glass material with a small central aperture therein for the passage of the bar stock. The covers 31' substantially seal off the grinders so that the dust is effectively confined and collected for periodical removal.

An ancillary but highly important further function of the covers 31' is protection afforded thereby against flying fragments of metal or abrasive, as when a grinding wheel breaks, for example. The covers 31' are removably held in place by means of brackets 31" so that they may be readily replaced when broken or damaged by flying wheel fragments or otherwise.

In order to properly illuminate the lower sides of the bar stock I provide a plurality of lights 63 about the grinder machine, positioned in such manner as to illuminate the stock and mirrors, substantially as shown in Figure 3.

It should thus be understood that I have accomplished the objects initially set forth. I have provided a generally simplified and wholly practical apparatus for mechanically removing surface defects and the like from hot rolled bar and rod stock in a substantially continuous and highly efficient manner. Heretofore such operations have been conducted almost entirely by the use of hand grinders. Such methods are tedious and laborious and have therefore required large crews of men and extraordinary expense. On the other hand, my grinding machine may be operated by a single man at a high rate production so that large savings may be made in this aspect of mill operation.

One of the important features of the invention is the provision of a stock circumscribing grinder frame mounting a plurality of independently controllable grinder units which may be selectively brought to bear upon various surface area portions of the stock. In combination with this I provide a unique arrangement of mirrors on both the entry and exit sides of the grinders so that all of the surface defects in the stock may be initially located and then subsequently inspected.

My invention also embodies a novel control arrangement whereby the maximum grinding pressure available may be quickly adjusted with respect to the nature of the defect moving into position to be ground. In this manner it is assured that the grinding apparatus will not be damaged through excessive pressure and that no more stock than necessary will be removed. Moreover, this feature simplifies the control of the machine in that the operator merely closes the proper switch to move a desired grinder into contact with the stock and regardless of howlong the switch is held closed the pressure will not exceed the desired amount.

Anotherimportant feature of the invention is the pro vision of a grinding station which generally circumscribes the moving stock and which has a plurality of grinding units collectively encompassing the whole of the periphery of the stock, with alternate grinding units being offset so as to avoid any interference. In '-the preferred embodi ment herein illustrated I employ a novel frame member for 'the grinders which-comprises a central web section mounting alternate grinder units on opposite sides with a large flange circumscribing the web to impart strength thereto and to mount actuating'cylinders for the several grinder units.

It should be understood, however, that the embodiment herein illustrated and specifically described is intended to be representative only as many changes may be made therein without departingfrom the clear teachings of the invention. Reference should therefore be had to the following appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.

I'clairn:

l. A grinding machine for removing surfacedefects from hot rolled bar and'rod stock andthe like comprising a'base, means to forciblyf propel stock therealong, a frame mounted on said base intermediate its ends and disposed generally tranverse'ly to theline of movement of said stock, a plurality of grinders-mounted on said. frame for radial movement toward and'awayfrom said line of movement, alternate ones of said grinders being mounted in offset relation to'the others, separateactuators for said grinders, separate control means for said actuators where by said grinders may be independently moved toward or away from said stock, and arcuate mirror means positioned adjacent said frame and beneath said stock whereby to expose the lower surfaces of said stock to the view of an operator positioned in direct viewing relation to upper surfaces of said stock.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further characterized by said frame comprising a generally flat web portion disposed transversely to the line of movement of said stock and a flange portion circumscribing said web portion to strengthen the same, alternate ones of said grinders being mounted on opposite sides of said web.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 further characterized by said actuators being mounted on said flange portion and having portions extending therethrough to drivingly connect said grinders.

4. A grinding machine for removing surface defects from hot rolled bar and rod stock and the like comprising a base, means on said base to forcibly propel stock there along, a plurality of grinders mounted on said base for radial movement toward and away from the line of movement of said stock, said grinders being grouped closely in a longitudinal direction while being alternately offset from each other to avoid interference, separate fluid operated actuating cylinders for each of said grinders, separate control means for said actuators whereby said grinders may be selectively and independently brought into grinding relation with stock moving along said base, and separate adjustable pressure regulating means associated with each of said actuators whereby the working pressure of each grinder may be independently controlled and quickly adjusted.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 further characterized by said grinders being movable along radial axes spaced about the entire periphery of said stock whereby said grinders collectively may be brought into working relation with the entire peripheral surface of said stock, and further including mirror means positioned adjacent said stock near the strip entry side of said grinders whereby an operator stationed near said grinders may observe defects on all sides of said stock.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 further including mirror means positioned adjacent said stock near the strip exit side of said grinders whereby said operator so stationed may inspect defective areas about the entire periphery of said stock after grinding thereof.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 further characterized by said means to propel being reversible whereby upon observation by an operator of defective conditions in said last mentioned mirror means said stock may be reversed in direction of movement for further grinding of said stock to remove said defective conditions.

8. A grinding machine for removing surface defects from hot rolled bar and rod stock and the like comprising a base, means to forcibly propel stock therealong, a frame mounted on said base intermediate its ends and disposed generally transversely to the line of movement of said stock, said frame comprising a fiat transversely disposed web portion circumscribed by a longitudinally extending flange, said web portion having a central aperture therein for the passage therethrough of said stock, a plurality of grinders mounted in radially spaced relation alternate- 1y on opposite sides of said web and adapted for radial movement toward and away from said aperture, and actuator means secured to said flange and extending outwardly thereof for separately moving said grinders radially inward and outward.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 further characterized by said grinders comprising slide members guided for radial movement on said web, means at the radially inward ends of said slide members journaling grinding wheels for rotation about axes transverse to the line of movement of said stock, and drive motors for said grinding wheels mounted on said slide members in parallel relation to the axes of the respective slide members.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 further characterized by said web having a plurality of radially spaced integral guiding surface portions extending longitudinally outward thereof for supporting and guiding said slide members.

11. A grinding machine for removing surface defects from hot rolled bar and rod stock and the like comprising a base, means to forcibly propel stock therealong, a plurality of grinders mounted on said base for radial movement toward and away from the line of movement of said stock, said grinders being grouped closely in a longitudinal direction while being offset from each other to avoid interference, separate actuating means for each of said grinders, separate control means for said actuating means whereby said grinders may be selectively and independently brought into grinding relation with stock moving along said base, and arcuate mirror means positioned adjacent said grinders and beneath said stock whereby to expose the lower surfaces of said stock to the view of an operator positioned in direct viewing relation to upper surfaces of said stock.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 further characterized by said actuating means comprising fluid operated cylinders for each of said grinders, and separate pressure regulating means associated with each of said cylinders whereby working pressure of each grinder may be independently controlled.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,264,975 Replogle May 7, 1918 1,457,845 Lochhead June 5, 1923 1,625,127 Malone Apr. 9, 1927 1,689,512 Worton Oct. 30, 1928 

